Napster 2.0 Beta on Oct 9th

[MacRumors]

Online music downloads and music player competition is heating up... on the PC side.

Despite target dates (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/07/20030728012221.shtml) for Napster 2.0 by Christmas, Reuters reports (http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=3542788) that Napster 2.0 will start beta testing on October 9th.

Last week, Samsung and Napster (http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/hardware/desktops/0,39001729,39151629,00.htm) announced that they would be releasing a "Napster compatible" MP3 player, following in Apple's iPod footsteps to provide music store and audio player integration.

The importance of such integration is underscored by a CNet article (http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/hardware/desktops/0,39001729,39151629,00.htm) that suggests that BuyMusic has failed to provide players that will play the secure WMA files that it currently offers.

[DeusOmnis]

apple needs to hurry the fsck up

[obeygiant]

Ya think they'll offer Metallica Songs?

[sososowhat]

to call it Napster when it's quite different in spirit & concept than the original.

[RandomMacGuy]

"Since the introduction of the iPod in blah blah blah and the introduction of the iTunes Music Store in blah blah blah everyone else has tried to catch up blah blah blah statistics blah blah blah <dramatic pause> they have yet to succeed."

Applause

[jaykk]

here come the more competition

"Napster will offer 500,000 songs out of the gate--about twice what those competing services launched with"

Sounds like almost everyone is out to get apple. Apple indeed opened a can of worms.

Next will be M$ i guess.

[jer2665]

i think this is terrible. It isn't napster, it isn't the same idea, same engine, i dont even think the same kid. That's just cashing in on a popular name. That's stupid. that's like taking a crappy movie, wihout tony montana, or anyone from the original scarface, or any of the story, and just because it has something to do with drugs, calling it scarface 2 (i just finished watching it again :D )

ok, so it's not exactly like that, but it's still stupid.

[coolbreeze]

iTunes for Windows anyone? C'mon!!! Finding iTMS is going to be like "Where's Waldo" in this already saturated market. Apple seems to have shot themselves in the foot pioneering this madness!!....H-U-R-R-Y- U-P Apple!!!

[ELYXR]

I wonder how Apple is going to implement AAC on the PC. Do you think there are issues with DRM on Windows in order to appease the record companies? I think that is why this is taking so long. My $.02

[SBG88]

C'man, Apple will not be wholly affected by these services. I wonder how many will be left in a year. Again, of course, it will be down to Apple and Microsoft. I'm betting on the iPod this time.

BTW, the bluetooth keyboard kicks ass.

[rickvanr]

Originally posted by ELYXR
I wonder how Apple is going to implement AAC on the PC. Do you think there are issues with DRM on Windows in order to appease the record companies? I think that is why this is taking so long. My $.02

i think thats why its taking so long
all of the itunes music store is in AAC

how easy is it to get AAC working on a windows machine?

could that be the problem?

[VicMacs]

apple needs another big release, kinda like ITMS but with something new... a new standard is set but since everybody is going for the gold you might just interest everybody else with the best of the best, apple can do it, they always have... but i think they need more people on the job... i'm willing to help apple! they should hire us all... hehe

bring on Panther AAAAAAAH! (runnig a pre-release)

[iTag]

i tend to agree here with the concept that its not napster its just the name...

Napster didnt cost anything did it

And the ipod the bloody ipod this and that great product its not the be all and end all of every god dam audio equitment its a gloryfied hard drive which is reall nice light and easy to carry around ....

wtf iam i saying bring on iTunes Windozzz and there will be a lot of happy people whats wrong with MP3 AS WELL AAC keep that for the Mac i say and let the pc heads suffer...

Yay i said somting that has no meaning what so ever as usaul

[Sublime]

I soo miss the real napster.

[notEven]

on the semi-bright side, i think competition is necessary. It sparks the fuel to out-engineer and out-class the other, and usually ends up benefitting the end user in lower costs (of players, and music in this case). However, it is just a little bit sickening that Apple always has to be the pioneer and test monkey for new ideas and products (newton, imac, firewire, ..the very concept of a PC for friks sake), yet still gets very little respect from the majority. anyway, these "followers" usually are a good thing, usually playing catch-up and releasing semi-finished products while Apple continues to develop under the radar. we all know that the latest, most innovative, jaw dropping technology is just around the corner... and made proudly by our very own fruit company.

[dongmin]

I actually think it's good that there are so many different services getting into this market. I think against all the noise, Apple's combination of the iPod and iTMS will really stand out. All these mediocre windows services will take the less-savvy consumers away from each other, leaving the more savvy and quality-aware crowd for iTMS.

I've used the major mp3 players out there for Windows, and iTunes still blows them all away. The MusicMatch is a blatant ripoff but iTunes is still better. And we should see cooler features added to the iPod and iTMS that only Apple can provide.

[Belly-laughs]

Originally posted by SBG88
C'man, Apple will not be wholly affected by these services. I wonder how many will be left in a year. Again, of course, it will be down to Apple and Microsoft. I'm betting on the iPod this time.

I agree. Let them fight it out between them on Windows for a while. When the time is right Apple can go in for the kill!

[DeusOmnis]

i dont think apple is going to gobble up market share w/ so much competition unless iTunes is a really great program (to the windows people). Hopefully, iTunes will get a number of rave reviews.

[macnews]

Just once I would like to see Apple get in first, with a ton of market share on the PC side and THEN see the competition jump in. Competition is good and all, but just once would be nice. I know Apple leads in the mp3 player market, just would like to see the software lead as well.

[iTag]

A Little off topic not really is iTunes for windows free.....


aint heard any prices or anything as yet not even a rough guess

[srobert]

Originally posted by SBG88
C'man, Apple will not be wholly affected by these services. I wonder how many will be left in a year. Again, of course, it will be down to Apple and Microsoft. I'm betting on the iPod this time.

Apple and iTunes for Mac may not be affected by this but Apple and iTunes for PC will. And about the iPod, yes, I personally think it's a better overall product than the ones offerend by the competion... but we should'nt expect mr. and Mrs. everyoby to choose quality over lower prices. It just won't happen. At this price the iPod will stay a high end product. The long term success of the Apple Online Music Store depends in grat parts on either A) Wider adoption of the AAC standard by competitors or B) Considerable iPods sales on the PC side and imminent release of ITMS for wintel. Option "A" seems unlikely.

Just my 2 cents (All I have left after purchasing my sweet but expensive iPod)

Me

[AidenShaw]

Has there been confirmation that iTunes is being ported to Windows, or is it possible that the music store will use a different player?

I hope if it's being ported, that they take the time to make it a proper (i.e. style guide compliant) Windows app, and don't make it an alien Aqua/metal app like the Windows QT player.

[1adonis1]

I don't think that iTMS will hit big with Windows, due to the fact that, just as Apple people dislike windows, there are Windows users that dislike Apple so much, that they will not use iTMS just to see it fail.:(

[kerryb]

Hopefully Apple will make big noise with the release of the windows ITMS. Be very obvious Apple we are talking to windows users here, hold their hands and make it crystal clear that ITMS is the best, original, EASIEST, way to legally download music to their crappy pc's and iPods. Use a spokeswoman like Pam Anderson if necessary.

[Java]

Consumers will be able to sign up for a year's service (which will include unlimited downloading and burning) or purchase songs à la carte or by the album (no pricing as of yet). So once again, you are asked to sign up for a yearly contract just to burn a track. Maybe I'm wrong, but wasn't part of the success of the iTMS was the fact that you didn't have to sign up for any contract?:confused:

[the_mole1314]

When they launch the iTMS on Win, they should have a 'free music' day where you can download 10 songs for free. Talk about taking the wind out of Napster's sail...

[dongmin]

Originally posted by 1adonis1
I don't think that iTMS will hit big with Windows, due to the fact that, just as Apple people dislike windows, there are Windows users that dislike Apple so much, that they will not use iTMS just to see it fail.:(

The windows market is a big one. There are a plenty of PC people who like apple products but don't use it because a) it's expensive, b) it doesn't have the software they need, and c) their work environment is pro-PC. Issues B and C are irrelevant here. So the cost issue is the only thing in play. Already PC services are trying to undercut the iTMS by offering 89 cents per song as opposed to 99 cents. And, of course, the iPod carries a premium over the other, lesser-quality players. The iPod has done well so far b/c portable mp3 players is a niche market and early adopters tend to discriminate more. But as this phenomenon becomes more wide-spread, you'll see the cheaper knockoffs taking off as well.

I think Apple has a good shot at being the #1 player in the download music market. But that does not mean they'll own the market like Msoft owns the PC market. If Apple gets only 20% of the market, it should still be really good (prolly beyond their expectations). Apple does well in integrating their products. So being a healthy player in the download market should boost the rest of their product lineup.

[1adonis1]

Yeah that's a good point. This may by a little off subject, but when is apple going to have some competitors in the Music Store business. You may not like MS, but you always have tons of options, but with apple, you only have one.

[singletrack]

Originally posted by rickvanr
i think thats why its taking so long
all of the itunes music store is in AAC

how easy is it to get AAC working on a windows machine?

could that be the problem?


I'm playing AAC files on my PC now. I have a spare Windows NT server. I use iTunes on my iBook to encode and organise the files but Quinntessential Player (http://www.quinnware.com) to play them on the PC. That leaves my iBook with more spare ram and cpu to do other stuff and in any case the PC would be otherwise doing nothing but sharing files.

AAC is already on the PC in Quicktime.

What you're perhaps alluding to is if they've added 'FairPlay' to the PC version of Quicktime. I'd have thought so by now.

[Malic]

Originally posted by rickvanr
i think thats why its taking so long
all of the itunes music store is in AAC

how easy is it to get AAC working on a windows machine?

could that be the problem?

AAC playback isn't the problem - there's a plugin for WinAmp that will play iTunes encoded (unprotected) .m4a's just fine. And I do that at work everyday.

The DRM may be another story. Apple can rely on serial number of Macs in the firmware to identify a unique machine. There are such things for PC but AFAIK its not a standard how to do it.

I don't think it's a problem for Apple to figure out HOW to do it. It's just that such an effort needs to be a home run from launch date on.

Point: Software - high quality software - TAKES TIME TO WRITE!!! And as the old saying goes "Throwing more programmers at a late project makes it even more late."

Patience.

At least until Thanksgiving. If we don't see iTMS4Win by then, well, then we can all get justifiably upset. "Before end of year" means "Anytime before December 31st!" But not having iTMS4Win in the pipeline in time to spur Christmas gift iPod sales for Windows users would be a serious loss of opportunity.

IMHO. :D

[Photorun]

C'mon Apple! Any day now! Apple blew it when they hadn't even been designing iTMS for Windows until AFTER the Apple Store went online. Typical Apple foot shooting, great idea, blow the implimentation, everyone else copies and takes glory, been this way since Apple revolutionized the peecee world.

Craptacular.

[SiliconAddict]

Considering the RIAA all but neutered Napster I don’t think there is much in the way of competition from them other then name recognition.

[Trimix]

It is my impression, that Apple never thought to be so succesful in the music bizz. This for one explains why they did not have the PEECEE version ready and are now playing a little catchup. In my mind that is quite alright. Just as Apple had to pave the way with the 5 majors, now the additional demand from new download services will make it easier for Apple to trod down the same path.

Equally important from a European perspective is to come up with a European version.
I am sitting here and have now found 97 songs I would buy outright together with a new and shiny i-pod. Right now I am holding off, as I am waiting for the music store to make its appearance over here and as I figure until then we will have seen at least two revisions to the i-pod.
I do not know if this is examplary of the mac community over here but I am sure that a European access to the music story would boost the i-pod sale quite nicely.

[mactastic]

If so, Napster users are in for a treat; early YP-900 specs included a 10GB hard drive, FM reception and broadcasting (for wireless playback over car and home stereos), a fast USB 2.0 connection, and line-in recording

Ooooooo a 10 Gig hard drive you say? Wow that's so... last year.
;)

[SiliconAddict]

Originally posted by mactastic
Ooooooo a 10 Gig hard drive you say? Wow that's so... last year.
;)

And yet how many people don't need or care for more then a 10GB hard drive. ;)

[srobert]

(or whas that Developpers, developpers, developpers? ;))

Back on track. Can anyone make a simple bullet list of all the ITMS like services that have been announced or modified/updated since apple announced the ITMS? (MusicMatch? Napster? I know there is more...)

If this continues, we should create a spredsheat with all the suppliers in the "Y" axis and all the offered services and DRM on the "X" Axis for simpler comparaison. Any takers? ;)

Thanks

[arn]

Originally posted by srobert
(or whas that Developpers, developpers, developpers? ;))

Back on track. Can anyone make a simple bullet list of all the ITMS like services that have been announced or modified/updated since apple announced the ITMS? (MusicMatch? Napster? I know there is more...)


The majors appear to be

BuyMusic.com
Listen.com (Rhapsody, acquired by Real)
MusicMatch.com
Napster 2.0

Microsoft has their european one too.

arn

[kenaustus]

I think Apple is doing OK, and in a good position in terms of the Win app. Their market share for the iPod ensures that there will be a lot of MS users buying when the software is ready. You can also be sure that Apple is working internationally to allow the service to expand.

The real key for me is that this project is just one of a long line of efforts at Apple. Think about all of the products that Apple, "with only 3% market share", is delivering. G5's, Panther, new PBs, new iPods, iSight, updated iMacs plus a ton of user software (in addition to iLife). Throw in the work you know is being done for the future - like G5 PBs - not to mention things we feel sure they are working on, like new iMacs & iBooks. Then, for the hell of it consider the industry leading efforts in engineering (G5 cases) and design levels that no one comes close to.

Apple is doing one hell of a job on a mountain of tasks. The Music Store and iTunes for Windows will be delivered by the end of the year. It's all the other things that get me excited so I, for one, am happy that they are distributing development resources in the balanced way they are.

[MrMacMan]

Come on apple, get your act togethe and hurry up.

Windows users are gonna have atleast 3 other options by the time you come!

You need to make an impression.

[Dippo]

I am not saying that competition is a bad thing, but it would have been nice if Apple had cornered the market first, instead of having to play catch up.

As we all know Apple will have the best product but that doesn't mean it will be the most widely used (ex: M$ windoze)

[applebum]

Originally posted by coolbreeze
iTunes for Windows anyone? C'mon!!! Finding iTMS is going to be like "Where's Waldo" in this already saturated market. Apple seems to have shot themselves in the foot pioneering this madness!!....H-U-R-R-Y- U-P Apple!!!

Ok - if Apple is so incompetent, then how did they get to be number one with the Ipod? Afterall, they introduced it into a market that was already saturated - and they were the most expensive. Yet they still became number one. Is it written somewhere that to be a Mac user/fan that you have to moan about everything that seems to be lacking with Apple? At some point I think we need to trust the powers that be at Apple and admit that they usually have a good reason for doing something. Despite all of these services coming out now, I think when Apple comes out with ITMS for Win that people will find out what true quality is.

[merge]

WTF? how will this work??
Users sign up for a year and can download all they want?

I don't see why any record company would go along with that..

I would program a bot to download every possible song.

it's in the Cnet (http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/hardware/desktops/0,39001729,39151629,00.htm) article.

How much will they charge for a years subscription??

[1adonis1]

If they were worried about true quality, wouldn't they own a mac and not a pc?

[Blaaze]

I don't see why some are claiming that Apple needs to get this out quick. I would rather have them spend their time doing it right. I can see though why it would be advantageous for Apple to release it soon.

In the end, the better product and service will prevail. And as long as Apple devotes the necessary time, coding, and testing for their windows music service, it will come out on top, no doubt in my mind.

But porting something like that to windows is definitely no easy task. But if Apple's windows service turns out to be as good as the Mac's, think of the proliferation of Apple throughout computers everywhere.

Something lingers in my gut though. Can legal music downloads really compete with the likes of Kazaa? Something makes me feel like only a small percentage of people will succumb to the good karma. I think in general, Mac users are more open to embrace ideas like these. Windows users however, generally don't really care, as long as what they have works for them. Free music, who can beat that? I don't think these law suits initiated by the RIAA is having much influence on file traders anyway. So I don't really think Napster or the other music services are the real competition, I think Kazaa and free music is.

Feel free to flame me..I don't really know what I'm talking about anyway. hahaha :D

[SBG88]

Originally posted by Blaaze
Feel free to flame me..I don't really know what I'm talking about anyway. hahaha :D

Actually, I agree with you. I don't see how these services will be able to stay alive in the long run. I also agree that Mac users are more eager or apt to buy their music from Apple just because they love them and want to see them succeed.
On the other hand, as a former Win user, I did not give a crap about the computer or OS and they could go to hell for all I cared.

I think much differently now.

[macnews]

Ok, granted it would be nice for a windows version, but one great thing the iTunes has going for it is the cool factor. And tonight on NBC Apple got some free promo that exemplifies the cool factor.

In the ER espisode where Dr. Carter goes back to the African congo to retrieve Dr. Kovac's body what does he carry with him? Why an iPod of course! What else would you want in the Affrican congo - certainly not a napster mp3 player!

[themadchemist]

Originally posted by RandomMacGuy
"Since the introduction of the iPod in blah blah blah and the introduction of the iTunes Music Store in blah blah blah everyone else has tried to catch up blah blah blah statistics blah blah blah <dramatic pause> they have yet to succeed."

Applause

Oh, and one more thing...

No iTMS for Windows...Ever...

MWUHUHAHAHA!

Applause.

Sometimes, we act like lemmings, too.

[singletrack]

In Europe there's only Microsoft's ODS. Apple are already beaten to the market here. The one plus point is that we can't use WMA files on Macs so Apple can still rule the Mac market.

I'm very surprised Microsoft haven't rolled it out in the USA too but I guess they are doing what Apple is doing in the USA - testing the market.

That's who Apple are competing against - The others are minor players and will be lucky to succeed against Microsoft although 'Napster' has a good brand name even if it's not quite the same as Napster 1.0. Microsoft have the advantage of an incumbent market - ie. anyone with Windows that they can push a Windows media player upgrade too, just as Apple has done with iTunes4. Watch out for what they do with the Mac version of WMP though.

[paradygm0001]

This constant tease and tickle from Apple is starting to annoy me, if they truly want their 10% share of the market they have got to get iTunes for Windows out there, the iPods and the G5 have many PCers on the fence. But as we have witnessed before they'll turn quickly when the standard cheap and ugly get out on the market. The market surge from the iMacs in the education market has dried up somewhat, and I have heard of two schools in my area that have gone Dell. This software should hold the preset standing and further thier/our plans for a larger world market.

PS - Shouldn't they integrate a phone into the iPod?!

[ninja]

Originally posted by paradygm0001
This constant tease and tickle from Apple is starting to annoy me, if they truly want their 10% share of the market they have got to get iTunes for Windows out there...

Tease and tickle? So they spend more than one year developing an application for another platform than their own. Of course the Mac version will be out faster since they had everything ready but the DRM-system...with the win version they have to invent the wheel again so to speak.


Originally posted by paradygm0001

PS - Shouldn't they integrate a phone into the iPod?!

Absolutely not...not until they get rid of the harddrive in it anyway.

[1adonis1]

Do you all really LOVE the Apple company? I own a mac,but i dont love apple. The computer market is so screwed up, a company like Apple is getting too much hype for doing something that it should do, which is to make great computer products. Isn't this their jobs?

Originally posted by SBG88
Actually, I agree with you. I don't see how these services will be able to stay alive in the long run. I also agree that Mac users are more eager or apt to buy their music from Apple just because they love them and want to see them succeed.
On the other hand, as a former Win user, I did not give a crap about the computer or OS and they could go to hell for all I cared.

I think much differently now.

[ninja]

Originally posted by 1adonis1
Do you all really LOVE the Apple company? I own a mac,but i dont love apple. The computer market is so screwed up, a company like Apple is getting too much hype for doing something that it should do, which is to make great computer products. Isn't this their jobs?


Everyones job is the offer something great - few succeed - and therefor deservedly get hyped, since they are the best at it (but best is not nessecarily perfect).

[1adonis1]

As far as being the best, that depends on who you ask. Is there any type of information on which music format is the most used. I think that will tell whether people will go WMV or ACC.

[GrannySmith_G5]

wow. this is still the top story. I'm like an addict needing a new fix.

[jer2665]

Originally posted by 1adonis1
Do you all really LOVE the Apple company? I own a mac,but i dont love apple. The computer market is so screwed up, a company like Apple is getting too much hype for doing something that it should do, which is to make great computer products. Isn't this their jobs?


I agree, I actually HATE apple, and don't like jobs. I like the computer. I like the product, hate the company. I hate the apple store, and can't believe the crap apple is pulling with the dual g5's. I'm done ordering anything from the apple store, as i've ordered a few things, and i see them, they don't say pre-order, so I just buy it without paying attentions. Of the stupid new speakers for the ipod, my g5, and applecare...I recieved the apple care. Is that all they keep in stock or what? even the speakers which were released two days ago have an est. ship date of 10/16/2003 what a load of crap, i doubt at $150 everyone went out and purchased the "should be tons" they should have in stock.

As for the g5's I think it's ridiculous seeing the ones people ordered in august getting there before the people that ordered them in june. and the ship dates being pushed back THE DAY that they were supposed to ship. And we're not talking pushed back 2 or 3 days, we're talking pushed back weeks. If anything is being pushed back weeks, they know before the day it's supposed to go out the door, but they wait till the last second. AFTER PAYING usually 4,000+?!?

I give jobs credit for bringing apple back from the dead, not his business practices or anything like that. It almost seems like he's trying to bury apple again. I mean an undertested new o.s. version (10.2.8)? a4 month wait from the release of the g5? not too impressive upgrades to the powerbooks? i mean what is he doing?

Well, just wanted to vent because I hate Jobs.

[Aqua OS X]

Just like the old Napster... only not at all!

[SBG88]

If that was the case you would be using Windows XP right now. C'mon, who do you think kept Apple alive?... "Mac fanatics" or "Mac is cool but I hate Apple fanatics".

[1adonis1]

I thought it was Bill Gates that kept apple alive ;)
Originally posted by SBG88
If that was the case you would be using Windows XP right now. C'mon, who do you think kept Apple alive?... "Mac fanatics" or "Mac is cool but I hate Apple fanatics".

[SBG88]

Originally posted by 1adonis1
I thought it was Bill Gates that kept apple alive ;)

I wonder how many Mac's he has at home?

[xStep]

Originally posted by macnews
Just once I would like to see Apple get in first, with a ton of market share on the PC side and THEN see the competition jump in. Competition is good and all, but just once would be nice. I know Apple leads in the mp3 player market, just would like to see the software lead as well.

Apple has several times. First one was called the Apple //! Then IBM, along with MS, joined the party.

Later on the first consumer GUI was introduced by Apple. Becoming the Mac platform. Then MS made in roads there.

Then Apple had the Newton. You know. The first true PDA.

In all three cases Apple owned the market. But since they don't like to share their technology via distribution deals, they always loose market share. I expect the same will happen with the
Music store and MP3 player business.

There is one bright possibility. The loses won't be as bad in markets that are not Mac centric. That is why Apple needs iTMS for Windows. Lets hope, since Apple does this stuff very well.

[necrosmithx]

Originally posted by SiliconAddict
And yet how many people don't need or care for more then a 10GB hard drive. ;)

Funny you should mention that. I bought a refurbished 10 gig iPod recently and was showing it to some windows people today. Their comment? Not, wow, that's really cool, or wow, that looks great, or great features, or that sounds good..

it was like yeah, but who needs 10 gigs worth of mp3s?

farking stoopid people.

Just say it's cool! God, why can't you just admint that apple made something cool?

[necrosmithx]

Originally posted by Dippo
I am not saying that competition is a bad thing, but it would have been nice if Apple had cornered the market first, instead of having to play catch up.

As we all know Apple will have the best product but that doesn't mean it will be the most widely used (ex: M$ windoze)

If apple wanted to corner the marketshare for on-line music services, then they should sell iPods for dirt cheap, and ensure they are insanely effortless to use on the PC. You give the user a kickass MP3 player for cheap, and combine that with a superior music store where you pay as you go, and you're gonna win. They should offer a 5 gig iPod for like $50 or something insane like that, and maybe give users a $20 credit for music on the iTMS. That would get people there in waves. Couple that with a nationwide advertising campaign and you win.

$50 iPod. Free 20 songs download. Welcome to iTMS. With Apple's superior look and feel, Once people got on board, they wouldn't wanna touch anything else.

[singletrack]

Originally posted by xStep
Apple has several times. First one was called the Apple //! Then IBM, along with MS, joined the party.

I'd have said the Altair beat it and Commodore's PET was shown before the Apple II if actually not shipping till a few months afterwards. The IBM PC wasn't released till 1980 so it's not like Apple didn't have a head start.

Later on the first consumer GUI was introduced by Apple. Becoming the Mac platform. Then MS made in roads there.

Well, I guess not too many people had Xerox Stars. ;-)


Then Apple had the Newton. You know. The first true PDA.

Before that we called them 'Organizers' eg. the Psion Organizer from 1984.

In all three cases Apple owned the market. But since they don't like to share their technology via distribution deals, they always loose market share. I expect the same will happen with the
Music store and MP3 player business.


Well, that's not the case in Europe where Apple chose not to market any of it's products terribly well and it was soundly beat by Sinclair/Commodore/Acorn, Windows (eventually) and Psion. Sadly, one of those still remains a viable business to day. :-(

There is one bright possibility. The loses won't be as bad in markets that are not Mac centric. That is why Apple needs iTMS for Windows. Lets hope, since Apple does this stuff very well.

I don't think it needs either to be honest. It has no competition on the Mac platform so far as the competition are all using Windows Media DRM. It seems to be doing just fine just selling to the Mac market. The Windows market is a bonus and if the iPod supported WMA then they'd quite possibly sell even more iPods and that's largely the purpose of iTMS - to sell hardware - but I still question Apple's commitment to Europe as European Mac users are getting a raw deal out of the iApps.

Still, I want iTunes on my PC as there's no decent player on the PC.